For the second time in a three-week span, the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs just defeated the Broncos 19-8 in Week 6 on Thursday Night Football. And now this Sunday, Kansas City will be looking for their 17th straight victory over Denver.
There will be some matchups worth keeping an eye on this weekend. One of which, is a little bit under the radar, at least for some Chiefs fans. That includes Broncos running back Javonte Williams and the Kansas City run defense. Part of this is due to the flashes that Williams has had against the Chiefs in recent meetings. And of course, the injury to Nick Bolton will lead to a greater microscope on the KC linebackers.
What has Javonte Williams done to have some success against Kansas City in recent meetings? How could the Chiefs possibly alter their attack against him? Let’s kick it off.
Williams Winning With Physicality
The North Carolina product has an incredible mix of vision, short area burst and even pass catching ability. But overall, Javonte Williams is most dangerous with his physical running style and being able to win against contact. He is able to add some extra, hidden yards so often, despite having defenders draped all over his back. Solo tackle attempts are rarely enough to bring Williams all the way down. Meanwhile, this running back is not afraid to be aggressive when running straight at opposing defenders.
In his three career showings against the Chiefs defense, Javonte Williams has amassed 200 rushing yards on 45 carries. That is good enough for 4.4 yards per carry. Some of his success against Kansas City has been due to the Chiefs failing to get off of blocks and fill gaps. In other moments, however, Williams has been able to squeeze through tight areas, bounce off of weak tackle attempts and spin out of traffic. His ability to make something out of nothing has been a boost for the Broncos offense in some situations. With that added physicality as a runner, can Javonte Williams continue to have an upper hand on Kansas City, especially without Bolton available?
Getting Back To Full Strength
Even with his strong performances against the Chiefs defense, Javonte Williams missed both matchups against Kansas City last year. Of course, he suffered a nasty knee injury in Week 4 of the 2022 season. Not only did Williams suffer a torn ACL, but he also tore his LCL and had some other internal damage with his knee. His return has been a gradual incline to open the season. And with a new head coach in Sean Payton, Williams is still looking to prove himself for the future of this team, let alone with just getting back to feeling like himself.
In recent weeks, his touches and offensive snaps have begun to increase. His role is more noticeable on Denver’s offense, once again. Last week against the Green Bay Packers, Williams received 15 carries. That was the most rushing attempts for him in any game this season. To boot, he had four targets in the passing game last week. Williams has actually received at least three targets in all but one game this year. With his offensive snaps and touches increasing, the Broncos are beginning to fully trust in Javonte Williams again.
How Could Chiefs Look To Slow Him Down?
We touched on how Javonte Williams has been able to win against contact when facing Kansas City. On the flip side, the Chiefs will be tasked with defending without their best run defender among the linebacker spot. That is not to say that any of Willie Gay, Drue Tranquill or Leo Chenal cannot have success as a run defender. Though, Bolton is one of the more consistent downhill thumpers at linebacker across the entire NFL.
With Tranquill and Gay, you have some range that can help counteract Javonte Williams in space. Tranquill has also already shown a quick trigger when slashing through the interior gaps. Can he continue to reach his landmarks at a swift pace? The instincts of Chenal, as well as his hard-hitting ability, may be able to match the mental toughness of Williams. But in the end, the Kansas City linebackers and defensive front have to prove that they can wear down Javonte Williams.
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